Welcome

One of the most intriguing aspects about the $109 million Math+Science Complex at
Mesa College is actually not part in the building at all. Four learning gardens extend
teaching and learning beyond the classroom walls to the outside of the facility. These
specialty spaces were created by Mesa College faculty to enhance the teaching and
learning experience.

Located in the geographic center of Mesa College and alongside the central Promenade,
three gardens representing the four regions of the world that share San Diego’s Mediterranean
climate enhance student learning and showcase attractive water conservation landscaping.
In the north central courtyard, a unique Geo-Garden provides quiet study space and
stone structures that depict the earth’s layers. In 2015, a new Mesa student club,
TerraMesa, the college’s Environmental Stewardship Committee, and Facilities staff
revived Mesa’s Organic Garden. Located in the grounds surrounding the P100/200 Buildings
off the main campus at the corner of Marlesta Drive and Genesee Avenue, the organic
garden offers n outdoor learning lab and a therapeutic space to connect with nature,
and opportunities for transformative learning.

Geo Garden

Located in the courtyard of the Math+ Science Complex, the Geo Garden features a central
garden area and three six-foot tall stone wall segments depicting the earth’s layers.
It consists of two main instructional components, including a series the three free-standing,
custom stratigraphic walls and approximately two dozen boulder-sized rock specimens.

Geo Garden components illustrate important time and spatial relationships among various
rock formations exposed throughout greater San Diego. Both coastal and inland rock
units are represented, collectively spanning over 200 million years of geologic time.
The stratigraphic walls consist of pigmented, stained concrete embedded with fragments
from actual San Diego rock formations. Each wall is annotated with a descriptive steel
plaque.

The rock specimens have been placed at strategic locations around the courtyard to
illustrate common examples of all three rock types, including igneous, sedimentary,
and metamorphic, as well as common geologic features such as mineral veins, faults,
and fossilized sand dunes. Numerous common rock-forming minerals are also represented.

The Geo Garden represents the successful outcome of a public-private collaboration
among Mesa Geology Professors Don Barrie and Ray Rector, a local concrete contractor
(T.B. Penick & Sons), and a local landscape architectural firm (Wimmer, Yamada, and
Caughey).

MicroClimate Garden

The gardens surrounding the outer areas of the Math+Science Complex were designed
to enhance student learning and to showcase attractive water conservation landscaping.

The gardens along the walkway between the M+S Building and the LRC features native
regional plants, typical of the shrub dominated ecosystems that define southern California
and northern Baja and other Mediterranean climates. There are shrubs and grasses and
flowering herbaceous plants. They are used to teach students to recognize native species
and the features that help them survive so well in our low water climate. Some of
these native plants can be found planted at the rear of the building and the trees
surrounding it are mostly coast live oak – one of the few trees that grow naturally
in this region.

On the east, sunny side, facing the G Building and along the campus Promenade, are
plants from some of the other four regions of the world that share our Mediterranean
climate with its mild temperatures, low precipitation and winter rains. These plants,
having evolved in a similar environment, share many features with our local species:
small hard leaves, fuzzy leaves, fragrant leaves. They provide an excellent example
of convergent evolution.

On the east side are planted some northern California species and some African irises
that can be harvested for use in labs. In the back are various Mediterranean plants
including fragrant lavender and a single cork oak tree, the bark of which is used
as a renewable resource.

Lastly, to the west of the G Building and planted by our own Mesa facilities staff
long before the M+S building was built is an stunning desert garden filled with palo
verde, cacti, local shrubs and spring flowers, including our state flower: the California
poppy. This area perfectly complements the rest of the California species and is also
used in teaching.

Classes that utilize the Mediterranean Gardens include: BIOL250 - Introduction to Botany BIOL100 - Natural History & Environmental Biology The gardens are used some by non-majors and majors in BIO107 and BIO210B.

Located in the grounds surrounding the P100/200 Buildings off the main campus at the
corner of Marlesta Drive and Genesee Avenue, the organic garden provides opportunities
for transformative learning. It is both an outdoor learning lab and a therapeutic
space to connect with nature. Each Spring, Mesa students lead hands-on environmental
education activities for second and third graders from local elementary schools as
part of Canyon Classroom.

San Diego Mesa College 7250 Mesa College Drive San Diego, CA 92111-4998 619.388.2600